Tiger Woods' dream of a fighting finish at The Barclays blew up Sunday, as the notorious Bethpage Black course sent him falling into the depths of the field. It was American Nick Watney who found a way to tame the course with its hard fairways and slick greens.

"The course is extremely firm," Garcia said after Saturday's third round, when he was the only player among the final 18 to finish who broke 70. "The greens, just probably some of the fastest greens I've ever played. Just one of those days where you knew it was going to be tough and you have to hold on very tight, and just kind of hope for the best."

Woods started the third round three shots out of the lead. Then he three-putted for bogey three times on the front nine. He had another three-putt on the 14th hole, this one from 15 feet, and had a 72 that put him six shots behind.

"I don't remember blowing putts by 8 to 10 feet," Woods said. "So that was a bit of a shocker."

He knew what to expect on the first hole, when he watched Gary Christian lean on his putter and nearly fall over because the club had no traction on the slippery surface.

Phil Mickelson might still be in the game. Twice a runner-up at Bethpage Black — both times in the U.S. Open — Mickelson played early Saturday and had a 67. That eventually put him in the large group at 4-under 209 that included Woods, Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood and Charl Schwartzel, an impressive collection of players who have either won a major or been No. 1 in the world.

Mickelson, also tied for 10th, went off at 1 p.m. ET.

"If you play well, you can shoot a decent score, but as the day goes on, the course just gets harder and harder," Garcia said. "No doubt playing in the morning makes it a little bit easier. Even though the greens were still firm, they were probably not as firm and probably not quite as fast. It's just we know what Bethpage Black is all about. We know it's a tough golf course, and you've just got to realize that's the way it's going to be."